David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)

Over the last number of days, the South East Economic Monitor published its report, which showed a stagnant economy across the south east. There are very worrying figures in that report, which comes from a group of academics in the South East Technological University. One of the issues they cite is a lack of public investment in infrastructure. It is not that difficult to understand when there is no funding for the N24 this year and no funding for the N25 Waterford to Glenmore road, which should have got funding. There is still no funding for Waterford Airport. I have asked the Taoiseach several times about that but there is still no commitment from the Government to deliver. According to two parliamentary questions I have put down, of all the model 4 hospitals, University Hospital Waterford was joint bottom in relation to capital funding over the last ten years. Regarding technological universities, of all of the TUs, the South East Technological University was bottom of the list when it came to capital infrastructure. All of this proves that we are simply not getting our fair share. When is the Government going to sign off on the funding for Waterford Airport?

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